Murphy announces 12 new drop boxes for unused medications

NORTH SALEM, NY - The abuse of prescription drugs continues to be a major public health concern in New York State. Thanks to an $8,000 grant secured by Senator Terrence P. Murphy, twelve new medication drop boxes for the disposal of unused drugs have now been installed in every municipality in Westchester County.
 
Senator Murphy and County Executive Robert P. Astorino unveiled a new drop box on Wednesday, January 27 at the North Salem Police Department. Murphy and Astorino were joined at the press conference by legislator Francis Corcoran and North Salem Supervisor Warren Lucas.
 
"I am proud to partner with County Executive Rob Astorino and to be able to deliver the needed grant money to make this project a reality," Senator Murphy said. "Having hosted a number of medication take back programs, at which we averaged nearly two hundred pounds of discarded medications, it became clear more disposal options were needed for our residents."
 
"Prescription medication can be a life saver when properly used, but when not properly disposed of they can be a real health and safety issue," Astorino said.  "Thanks to Senator Murphy's efforts, we are able to install the final 12 drop boxes in the county, where residents can take their unused medications for proper disposal.  Don't throw them in the trash, don't flush them down the toilet and don't just leave them lying around the house.  Go to your nearest drop box and dispose of them properly."

The boxes give households a safe option to dispose of expired, discontinued or unwanted medications in a manner that takes into account public health, as well as the environment. A major concern is that drugs left in the home can end up in the wrong hands - stolen for sale, or worse, ingested by unsuspecting children.

The locations of the drop boxes are as follows:

• Bronxville Police Department, 200 Pondfield Road, Bronxville
• Dobbs Ferry Police Department, 112 Main Street, Dobbs Ferry
• Elmsford Police Department, 15 South Stone Avenue, Elmsford
• Hastings Police Department, 7 Maple Avenue, Hastings-on-Hudson
• Larchmont Village Hall Lobby, 120 Larchmont Avenue, Larchmont
• Mamaroneck Town Hall, 740 West Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck
• North Salem Police Department, 274 Titicus Road, North Salem
• Pelham Manor Police Department, 4 Penfield Place, Pelham Manor
• Pelham Police Department, 34 Fifth Avenue, Pelham
• Tuckahoe Police Department, 65 Main Street, Tuckahoe
• Westchester Country Government, 148 Martine Avenue, White Plains

Westchester County is a pioneer in the Med Return effort, having started the practice back in 2008.  By 2013, County Executive Astorino had dramatically increased the number of Westchester police departments equipped with them and after today's announcement the total number of drop boxes stands at 39.

Senator Murphy and County Executive Astorino continue to advocate for drug reforms. At the press conference both officials spoke of the local heroin epidemic, which for many can be traced to prescription drug abuse.